Did you really have another offer? If not, you lied to them to get your way. I wouldn't want you in my band.
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Taking a Stance
- Thread starter bluewine
- Start date
Anyone else think pro bassplayer coming to my local audition means:
living in his mother's bassment
does nothing but play bass
if he has children ignores them
can't pay for his own food, but has a Sadowsky
oblivious to the situation that he's in and doesn't see the need to get a job outside of playing
If someone sends me an email about my band and uses professional musician red flags go up. what I'd rather hear is "I love music but realize I have responsibilties so I support myself/family by doing this." Normally if they don't have a job that is a strike against them but this is MI in the 2000s so I've laxed that one a bit.
The last drummer that gave me an ultimatum is still looking for work.
living in his mother's bassment
does nothing but play bass
if he has children ignores them
can't pay for his own food, but has a Sadowsky
oblivious to the situation that he's in and doesn't see the need to get a job outside of playing
If someone sends me an email about my band and uses professional musician red flags go up. what I'd rather hear is "I love music but realize I have responsibilties so I support myself/family by doing this." Normally if they don't have a job that is a strike against them but this is MI in the 2000s so I've laxed that one a bit.
The last drummer that gave me an ultimatum is still looking for work.
Then the headgames/ultimatum was definately unwarranted - but that's certainly been said enough here.
All I would say is:
If you think they are a start up, what do you think they think you are? I think you should always go in humble - they will show their true colors and you'll know what they are about. Going in there spouting "pro-level" you loose sight of the need to sit back and let them show you what they are all about.
Treat them like you want to be treated - b/c what you do will always come back around to you.
If you've been auditioning for a while, without finding a situation that works, maybe it's time to take two steps back and look at what you might be doing wrong - not saying that you're evil or something, but at some point you have to step back and ask yourself what you can do differently to increase your success.
jive1
Commercial User
I know a few pro bass players that have their own house, takes care of their kids, pay for their own food while playing a cheaper bass, and have jobs to supplement their income from making music.
But then again, these guys usually don't audition either.
If you've been auditioning for a while, without finding a situation that works, maybe it's time to take two steps back and look at what you might be doing wrong
Where I was wrong;
Auditioning for a start up, because it's not what I want
Auditioning for Red Necks, again they don't want me and I don't want them. Not to say that some are good musicians. But they make it clear they don't want people like me around.
Where I was wrong;
Auditioning for a start up, because it's not what I want
Auditioning for Red Necks, again they don't want me and I don't want them. Not to say that some are good musicians. But they make it clear they don't want people like me around.
i gather it's been covered in some other threads (that i must've missed) but do you have a clear picture of what you do want? like, in your mind when you picture the situ that you want to be in what does it look like? my suggestion is to spend more time thinking about exactly what it is that you want. like every day. be specific too.
I guess it comes down to perceptions. Damn, there's that social constructivism thing I've been going on about all week.
When someone says, "pro" to me, I generally make the assumption that they have the skills that fit my archetype of a professional musician. That is, they have a certain threshold of chops and musicianship, good sound/tone, a general ability of musical knowledge (i.e., they don't have to be a Berklee professor, but they should be able to transpose songs and understand chord structures, etc.), etc. I definitely can make the equation of a "pro" being someone who plays music, but also works as a software engineer during the week.
Though I see where you're coming with the term "pro" being used. Remember the Osbourne's show? There was this "pro" skateboard who used to hang around Ozzy and Sharon's place; the guy was a huge loser, and when he was featured in an episode, the focus was usually on how he was sponging off of the Obsbournes.
Really, this discussion would probably make a decent discussion on its own.
I guess I am the first person in the world to lie.
Geez, it was a BS start up band that I should have never wasted my time with.
I am very open minded, but you have no idea how I feel about some of these red necks I have auditioned for.
I am getting smarter though,I can tell from the adresses now and they usually have no web- presence.
I am done being open to all people.Red Necks are officially on my "Don't Bother With" list.
I have ben playing for over 40 years so I consider myself a pro. I am not the best and I'm not great, but I am a Pro. However, I don't know if I will use that term to describe my abilities when responding to an ad. Even if the ad says,"Seeking Pro Level Bass Player, like many of them do.
When I see that I ask them exactly what they mean. It's different to different people, often within the same band. If they have heartburn with me asking, then I don't want to go there anyway.
So..basically you did lie? Ok gotcha.
As others have said, it all depends on what you call pro. I don't see how or why a pro would need to be auditioning for, or playing head games with, a start up band they had no real interest in being with just to find work. Did the two offers you said you had gotten work out?
As others have said, you need to just start your own band and use whatever you know to make that work. From what I've read from your other posts, your demands are simply far too high for you to really fit in with another band.
Blue...it takes real charactar and guts to admit a mistake, not just to others but to yourself. I am really happy that this thread is actually going to increase your ability to successfully pursue a place in a future band. I know how it feels to long for a place alongside fellow players that you just 'click' with in everyway. I wish you the best and I am really proud of you for taking responsibility for your actions here man. Best wishes brutha!
I just read the rest of this thread. Look, if you are really desperate, and music is you're only source income, audition for a band you don't give a crap about. If you are a "pro", then reserve your talent, time, and frustrations for a band that is going to make you happy, challenge you, or utilize you to the fullest. Do not waste your time and make threads that will make you feel bad and get you flamed by posters on things that you really don't mean, believe in, or care about. I'm not flamin' you man, and you're far more experienced than I, but I believe that everyone has wisdom to share with his fellow man, even if they are 20+ years younger. Good luck, and I pray that you find a band you are happy with, and satisfies you.
